The OWs struggled on the transition back to 50 overs cricket as they were beaten convincingly by a strong allround performance from Banstead.

Banstead won the toss and elected to bat on a dry, used wicket. Dan Newton and Zimbabwean Kieran Geyle got Banstead off to the perfect start, adding 35 for the first wicket. Dan Kenton bowled an excellent opening spell and was rewarded by the wicket of Geyle who was caught at slip by Shaz Rana for 20. Luke Fisher then removed Banstead’s best two batsmen – Dan Newton, was trapped lbw for 11, and Tom Lancefield, who was caught at point, also for 11 – and the OWs were on top with Banstead at 58/3. Banstead’s inning was then rebuilt by Freddie van den Bergh and Greg Dann, who added 91 for the 4th wicket. Eventually, Will Page broke the deadline as his throw left Dann short of his ground attempting a second run to wide long off. Neil Baker and Josh Stainer were then dismissed lbw by consecutive deliveries from Harshil Patel leaving Banstead 156-6. At this point, the OWs started to rush through their overs as they were struggling to make sure they bowled their overs in the 3 hours 10 minutes allowed. Craig Short and Freddie van den Bergh seized on this and continued to accumulate. Van den Bergh was eventually dismissed for 54 caught off the bowling of Harshil Shah and Craig Short was bowled by Fisher for 32 off 33 balls. The OWs bowlers then struggled to defeat the tail as Nathan Ellis (24*) and Jamie Montebello (25*) toyed with the fielders during the batting powerplay to add 54 runs in the last five overs, including 12 penalty runs awarded to Banstead for the OWs slow over rate. Dan Kenton ended with figures of 1-45 off his ten overs and Luke Fisher with 3-51 off ten.

The OWs chase got off to bad start as Will Page played on off Nathan Ellis to leave the OWs 3/1. Mumtaz Talah was starved of runs by some disciplined bowling and eventually perished for 14, caught at point by Neil Baker off the bowling of Freddie van den Bergh (3-28). Shaz Rana and Amir Raza then added 106 for the 3rd wicket in just under 20 overs to keep the OWs in the hunt for a win as they knocked singles off the Banstead bowlers and hit the occasional boundary. Shaz Rana fell for 51, caught off Kieran Geyle (4-31) at point and with the score 152/3 off 34.1 overs, the OWs needed to score at just over 7 an over. Luke Fisher, promoted to number five, struggled to against Geyle’s left arm spin, and was caught at long on for 3 and the game started to slip away. Amir Raza was caught off the top edge by Geyle off the bowling of Tom Lancefield for a well made 69 and was followed soon after by Jake Scarisbrick, who was stumped for 18, and Adam Clarke who was caught and bowled by van den Bergh for 6. The OWs soon subsided to 201 all out, losing their last five wickets for 14 runs.

The OWs now find themselves in a relegation battle involving Malden Wanderers, Spencer and Walton on Thames who are all trying to evade the last relegation spot. The OWs have a 22 point league, but with 80 points still available, there is all to play for. The OWs travel to Walton on Thames next Saturday in a must win game.